240. I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

I am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley (Canada) - (US)
Flavia de Luce Mysteries, 4

Pages: 275
Ages: 18+
Finished: Nov. 5, 2011
First Published: Nov. 1, 2011
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genre: mystery
Rating: 5/5


First sentence:

Tendrils of raw fog floated up from the ice like agonized spirits departing bodies.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.

Reason for Reading: next in the series.

Oh, the sweet pure pleasure of reading a Flavia de Luce mystery, the witty and wise 11yo chemist with a propensity for poisons.  Book 4 in the series is as fresh and original as book 1 and, I think at this point, my favourite in the series.  Making a great Christmas gift as our action takes place on Christmas Eve this is sure to please fans and newcomers alike.  Fans will be pleased to see familiar faces but newcomers won't miss a thing just jumping in with this series.  A great character study and return to the traditional British mystery, Bradley has the Christie flair down to a "T".  The book entices us with two mysteries actually as the murder does not take place until 2/3s of the way into the book.  While the reader is kept guessing as to who will be murdered for the larger part of the book they are then rewarded with a splendid crime that has members of Flavia's own family on her list of suspects and her own life in danger at the climax.  Bradley has outdone himself!  If you have mystery lovers on your Christmas list, consider them taken care of!